The development of SAW transducers requires a series of steps ranging from material selection, geometry design, as well as, the selection of fabrication techniques for their characterization and validation process. Here, we use the finite element method in COMSOL Multiphysics to present a methodology and a detailed analysis of the design of a SAW transducer in a delay line configuration. First, we simulate single-finger and double-finger configurations of IDTs on LiNbO3 in 64°YX and LiNbO3 128°YX orientation, with the objective of 1) comparing the simulation results with the analytical delta model to validate the simulation process, presenting Pearson correlation values ranging from 0. 76 to 0.84. 2) calculate a maximum frequency value obtainable for those configurations from a resolution of 5 microns in the photolithography technique, used for the fabrication of SAW transducers. Next, we extended the analysis to study a specific transducer design made to operate at a resonant frequency of 97 MHz. In order to determine the influence of piezoelectric material and IDT configuration we compared identical designs on 128°YX and 64°YX orientations of LiNbO3 with single and double finger configurations and adding the SPUDT configuration. We observed the best results for the single-finger IDT configuration in 128°YX LiNbO3 orientation compared to the other variants through its insertion loss level of -7.29 dB, its average sidelobe level of 18.63 dB, and its average transition band slope for the main lobe of 119.59 dB/MHz. The results obtained can serve as a guide for new researchers or students to expand the use of numerical tools in the design of SAW transducers and SAW devices.

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) caused due to the antibodies HLA-DRB1* 07:01 and HLA-DQB1*02:02: a case report

A nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH) 2)-modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO) foam electrode for supercapacitor application is presented in this study. The electrode was made without binder through a one step process. In order to compare the supercapacitor performance of as synthesized graphene foam electrode, rGO and rGO:carbon black (CB) standard electrodes with PVDF-HFP binder were also synthesized . All electrodes were then characterized structurally (XPS, EDS, RAMAN, XRD, and FT-IR) and morphologically (SEM). Ni-containing electrodes were found in the α-Ni(OH)2:rGO structure. NirGO3 has 800 Fg -1 capacitance, while rGO:CB has 900. Thus NirGO3 has the best capacitive performance among binder-free electrodes, comparable to rGO:CB.

Introduction:Primary Sjögren’s syndrome(pSS) is an idiopathic, autoimmune disorder characterized by both localized and systemic manifestations. The most common clinical presentations include the “sicca” or “dryness” symptoms such as xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca due to diminished salivary gland and lacrimal gland function, respectively. Patients may also present with nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue and arthralgia, as well as pulmonary, gastrointestinal, neurological and renal involvement.1 Secondary Sjogren’s syndrome can coexist with other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 2According to literature, ocular signs and symptoms in pSS range from foreign body sensations, punctate or filamentous keratitis, to overt seborrheic blepharitis and eyelid swelling is reported to be rare.3 We report an usual/rare presentation of Sjogren’s syndrome in which the patient developed severe evolving mechanical ptosis and eyelid swelling to the extent that it impaired her ability to lift open her eyes and see, along with a positive anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody test.

Body size shifts in ectotherms are mostly attributed to the Temperature Size Rule stating that warming speeds up initial growth rate but leads to smaller size when food availability does not limit growth. Nevertheless, climate warming can decrease food availability, which can influence growth, fecundity and survival. However, the interactive effects of temperature and food availability on life history traits have been mostly studied in small invertebrate species. In contrast, we have limited information on how temperature and food availability jointly influence life history traits in vertebrate predators and how changes in different life history traits combines to influence population demography. We investigated the independent and interactive effects of temperature and food availability on traits of the medaka fish Oryzias latipes. We used our empirical estimates of vital rates as input parameters of an Integral Projection model to predict how modifications in vital rates translate into population demography. Our results confirm that warming leads to a higher initial growth rate and lower size leading to crossed growth curves between the two temperatures. Food-restricted fish were smaller than ad libitum fed fish throughout the experiment. Fish reared at 30 °C matured younger, had smaller size at maturity, had a higher fecundity but had a shorter life span than fish reared at 20 °C. Food restriction increased survival under both temperature conditions. Warming reduces generation time and increases mean fitness in comparison to the cold treatments. Food restriction increased generation time and fitness in the cold treatment but had no effect in the warm treatment. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for the interaction between temperature and food availability to understand how body size shifts can affects vital rates and population demography. This is of importance in the context of global warming as resources are predicted to change with increasing temperatures.

This paper is concerned with quantum stochastic differential equations driven by the fermion field in noncommutative space L p ( C ) for p>2. We investigate the existence and uniqueness of L p -solution of quantum stochastic differential equations in infinite time horizon by the Burkholder-Gundy inequalities for noncommutative martingales given by Pisier and Xu. Finally, we obtain Markov property and the self-adjointness which is of great significance in the study of optimal control problems. 2020 AMS Subject Classification: 46L51, 47J25, 60H10, 81J25.

A document by Hannah A. Varani. Click on the document to view its contents.

Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is a crucial metric for assessing the socio-economic cost-efficiency potential of various energy sources including solar photovoltaics. Nevertheless, accurate LCOE estimations for commercialized high-efficiency Si solar modules with passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) and silicon heterojunction (SHJ) structures have been lacking. In this study, we present the first global LCOE estimates for a PERC module (20% cell efficiency) and a SHJ module (23% cell efficiency), which have been derived by (i) performing rigorous energy-yield calculations with full-spectral and temperature-dependent simulations that incorporate all essential meteorological effects and (ii) considering country-specific capital costs and discount rates. Moreover, to determine the universal global LCOE, the LCOEs for three distinct installation capacities (100 MW for a utility, 500 kW for a commercial, and 5 kW for a residential system) have been unified by selecting an appropriate system size at each location based on a population density. We find that the LCOEs of both PERC and SHJ systems are below 3 cent/kWh in 2020 US dollar in many areas of China, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Australia, Chile, and Botswana where the conditions of a high energy yield, low population density, low capital cost, and low country-risk premium are satisfied simultaneously. In contrast, many European countries exhibit a moderate LCOE of 3~5 cent/kWh. Notably, Japan and Russia exhibit quite high LCOEs (6~10 cent/kWh) primarily due to significantly higher installation costs and moderate energy yields. Importantly, the global LCOEs of the PERC and SHJ modules are quite similar, with the SHJ module showing a slightly better cost performance in the regions near equator due to its low temperature coefficient. Conversely, the PERC module demonstrates cost advantage in the northern hemisphere due to a lower module cost.

As our understanding of the uncommon group of disorders called plastic bronchitis has evolved, so too has the classification of these disorders.

A middle-aged Caucasian man presented with a six-month history of bilateral enlargement of the breasts associated with pain. His hormonal profile was normal and no other underlying cause was identified, we diagnosed him with idiopathic gynecomastia. He is living with HIV, clinically stable (viral load <20copies/mL) and on injectable antiretrovirals cabotegravir/rilpivirine. Tamoxifen is an anti-estrogen recommended for gynecomastia and has been described in persons living with HIV. In this case, tamoxifen could potentially induce the activity of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), reducing rilpivirine concentrations, which consequently may cause virological failure. According to the National Health Service (NHS) guidelines in the UK, an aromatase inhibitor can be used in place of tamoxifen. To date, there have been no reported cases of using anastrozole as a treatment for gynecomastia in people living with HIV, or of its co-administration with antiretrovirals.

IntroductionMoyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic and progressive cerebrovascular occlusive disease involving the end of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the main branches within the circle of Willis (COW) [1, 2]. In Korea and Japan, more than half of the adult patients with MMD present with hemorrhagic stroke [2, 3]. The risk of recurrent hemorrhage in MMD is estimated at 11%-25% within five years and 19%-36% within ten years, with each subsequent hemorrhage increasing the risk of poor neurological outcomes [4]. The incidence of MMD-associated aneurysms is estimated to be 3%-14%, although the frequency of aneurysmal rupture as the cause of hemorrhagic MMD remains uncertain [5, 6]. MMD-associated aneurysms can be classified as peripheral aneurysms, which originate from collateral vessels, or saccular aneurysms, which originate from major intracranial arteries [7].The treatment strategies for MMD-associated peripheral aneurysms remain controversial because of their deep location, tortuosity, and fragility [7]. Peripheral aneurysms originate mainly from the lenticulostriate artery, thalamic perforating artery, or choroidal arteries [8]. Previous reports have described aneurysms treated with close observation, direct clipping, endovascular coiling, or direct revascularization [6].Herein, we report the case of a patient with Moyamoya disease that rapidly developed an MMD-associated pseudoaneurysm after direct revascularization. The patient recovered after endovascular coiling, and secondary revascularization was performed.

Colitis cystica profunda (CCP) is a rare benign disease characterized by mucus-filled cysts in the submucosa, sometimes similar to malignant tumors. Endoscopic, radiological and even histological examinations are not highly specific, which can easily lead to missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, resulting in unnecessary radical surgical resection. In this report, we present

The in vitro transcription (IVT) reaction used in the production of mRNA vaccines and therapies remains poorly quantitatively understood. Mechanistic modeling of IVT could inform reaction design, scale up, optimization, and control. In this work, we develop a mechanistic model of IVT to include nucleation and growth of magnesium pyrophosphate crystals and subsequent agglomeration of crystals and DNA. A novel quantitative description is included for the rate of transcription as a function of target sequence length, DNA concentration, and T7 polymerase concentration. The model explains previously unexplained trends in IVT data and quantitatively predicts the effect of adding the pyrophosphatase enzyme to the reaction system. The model is validated on additional literature data showing an ability to predict transcription rates as a function of RNA sequence length.

Rationale: Ion chromatography combined with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry is an ideal tool for measuring low concentrations of anionic species such as phosphite; however, the high concentration of chloride and other anions in natural solutions may negatively impact chromatographic separation and data quality. Method: We developed an on-line mechanism of removing chloride from the sample within the ion chromatograph, using an additional valve and a separation column that transfers chloride to waste while phosphite and most other anions are retained. We installed this system in a coupled IC-ICPMS system (ICS6000 and Element 2 in medium resolution mode) and determined linearity and detection limits. In addition, we measured phosphorous species by NMR for comparison as an alternative method for phosphite determination. Results: Chloride was fully removed from the samples while phosphite was retained and could be analysed by IC-ICPMS. Concentrations could be measured down to 0.003 µmol/L and possibly less with good linearity over the explored range (up to 1.615 µmol/L; r 2 = 0.999). In contrast, the detection limit by NMR was 6.46 µmol/L. Conclusions: The on-line removal mechanism works well for simplifying sample matrices. It removes the need for costly pre-analytical sample treatment with OnGuard columns. We confirm that IC-ICPMS is the most powerful technique for quantifying phosphite in natural solutions. The new Cl-removal method may also be applicable to analyses of other anions.

The blood cell phosphatidylinositol glycan class A (PIG-A) gene mutation assay has been extensively researched in rodents for in vivo mutagenicity testing and is now being investigated in humans. The PIG-A gene is involved in glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis. A single mutation in this X-linked gene leads to loss of membrane bound GPI-anchors, which can be enumerated using flow cytometry. With many studies published to date measuring this mutation in erythrocytes, there is remarkable consistency across research groups. Moreover, with the low background level of mutant erythrocytes in healthy subjects (2.9 - 5.56 x 10-6 mutants), induction of mutation post genotoxic exposure can be detected. Cigarette smoking, radiotherapy and occupational exposures including lead, have been shown to increase mutant levels. Identification of harmful agents can allow us to recommend new exposure limits, minimising individual risk. Conversely, protective agents such as aspirin and healthy diets could mitigate these effects, reducing baseline somatic mutation levels and such behaviours can be encouraged. This mutational monitoring approach may also provide information on individuals at higher risk of cancer development. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, oesophageal adenocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer have elevated numbers of PIG-A mutant erythrocytes compared to age-matched controls. With further technological progress including protocol standardisation and the development of cryopreservation methods to improve GPI-anchor stability, this assay can be widely employed in rural and low-income countries. Here we review the current literature on PIG-A mutation in human subjects and discuss the potential role of this assay in human biomonitoring and disease.

Monitoring of sweat pH play important roles in physiological health, nutritional balance, psychological stress, and sports performance. The combination of functional MOFs with phosphorescent material to acquire the real-time physiological information, as well as the ap-plication of dual mode anti-counterfeiting, have seldom been reported. Herein, we reported MOF and phosphorescent dyes based mul-tifunctional gel films with H+ response and the related mechanism was studied in detail. Upon induction of H+, the composite gel film ex-hibited decreased fluorescent signal but enhanced room temperature phosphorescence (RTP), which could be utilized for sweat pH sensing through a dual-mode. Moreover, multifunctional gel films exhibited a potential application in information encryption and an-ti-counterfeiting by designing of stimulus responsive multiple patterns. This research opens a new avenue for portable and non-invasive sweat pH monitoring method, provides opportunities for effective anti-counterfeiting, also offers new insights stimulus-responsive mul-tifunctional materials and their potential applications.

Many symbionts are sexually transmitted and impact their host’s development, ecology, and evolution. While the significance of symbionts that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is relatively well understood, the prevalence and potential significance of the sexual transmission of beneficial symbionts remain elusive. Here, we study the effects of sexually transmitted mutualist nematodes on their dung beetle hosts. Symbiotic Diplogastrellus monhysteroides nematodes are present on the genitalia of male and female Onthophagus beetles and are horizontally transmitted during mating and vertically passed on to offspring during oviposition. A previous study indicates that the presence of nematodes benefits larval development and life history in a single host species, Onthophagus taurus. However, Diplogastrellus nematodes can be found in association with a variety of beetle species. Here, we replicate these previous experiments, assess whether the beneficial effects extend to other host species, and test whether nematode-mediated effects differ between male and female hosts. Rearing three distantly related dung beetle species with and without nematodes, we find that the presence of nematodes benefits body size, but not development time or survival across all three species. Likewise, we found no difference in the benefit of nematodes to male compared to female beetles. These findings highlight the role of sexually transmitted mutualists in the evolution and ecology of dung beetles. Furthermore, these results suggest a potential new avenue through which environmental pollution with veterinary deworming agents may affect dung beetles and their ecosystem services.

Abstract